Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1887-11-05
BRITTLE BONES,
STRANGE PHYSICAL PHE<oN;,
NON OF \ SAILOR
sustaining Fracture After Fracture
The Borcs OF His Body Little
More Than Dust Held To-
gcther by an OILY Fluid

'DfAiA lid1lifN, Il SAILOR NntifT-
gong treatment in the Charity Hospital
on Backwcl's Island Tie writer SAWS
Hughes has had an cvcntful career
though he has only iust tecun to climb
Inte the fiftlc', he has passed through
cn)Hgh variety Of mes, pleasure, and
hardshin to make decent histories for
Ealf dozen men. lie WA, born on a New
Bedford whaling snip, and has ever since
trod the deck Of a vessel Of some sort.
HE particular portion Of his busy life
which may be said to throw some light
upon bis present disease was that spent
upon little island in the Southern Pa
cite Ocean. 1t was through no ochoicc Of
hl> that he visited this island 1t was
all tic work of one Of those terrific cy-
clones that loiter around the Southern
Pacific waiting for something to
run against. It struck the ship on
which Hughes was calling as mate,
and when the vessel turned double
/ lack actor handspring, Hughes was
thrown into the life boat and sci adrift
III the fury Of the storm How long he
was III the boat he h4s no knowledge,
but he thinks it was several DAYS, and
the first that he remembers WAS tindinr
himself upon a sandy beach, with the
sun pouring full upon his upturncd face
Hls clothes were dry. showing that he
had been on shore some time, and his
/ been days without. food lie was much
further inland than the boat AS soon
rs he collected his senses, he crawled to a
sheltered spot in the woodland which
fortunately was near 4 spring. After
! getting water then came the search for
food 1t was a dreary huni, but finally
/ Hughes found some birds of large size
feeding upon Il peculiar vegetable or
| plant having a light yellow flower, and
COnClUdcd he could stand what the birds
could. He ate freely Of this plant, and
soon there followed a pleasant sense of
cNlllaratiun or stimulation. The food
was nouTiShing and he gained strength
He made trips over the island, but save
the half sunhcn timb.rs in the sand that
marked the burial place Of many Il good
ship there was nothing to show the foot
! of human being had ever trod the deS-
olatc place. He varied his vegetable diet
by killing some of the birds He built
a little hut out of the trees and boughs
and prepared to spend the rest of his
days ON the island.
He had hopes, as is natural to the fol-
lower Of the sea, of being rescued some
da". There was ever chance that a
vessel might be blown his way In order
that the attention Of any passing ship
might be attracted, he fastened his red
shirt every clear day to the top of dead
tree, Days, weeks and months passed,
and never the sign Of a sail. 1t was a
monotonouS existence, but it was finally
broken by the appearance of long, black X
streak on the horizon. This indicated
that steamer was passing, but would 1t
come near the island was the question
that ackcd tn" mind Of :he castawav. Il
did, and the look outs eve caught the
waving shirt Tho steamer was stopped
a boat put of to the shore. and Hughes
crafcd with delight. was taken aboard
The res, I'D man, attera few days, recov